Freight-car.



H. W. KIRCHNER.

FREIGHT OAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. w. KIROHNER.

FREIGHT GAR, PPLIOATION FILED MAR. 17, 1910. A Patented July 11, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

II //I//////////// H. W. KIRGHNER;

FREIGHT UAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.1' 7,"1910.

Patented July-11, 1911.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

f which they are mounted and then conveyed UNITEDsTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. KIRCHNER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO RIVER & RAIL TRANS- PORTATION COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

- FREIGHT-CAR.

To' all whom it concern: 7

Be it known that I, HENRY W. KIRGHNER,

and exact description, such as will'enable others skilled'in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 10

This invention relates to freight; cars, and particularly to freight cars which comprise a plurality of removable and interchangeable units'that hold the material which the 'car transports, said units beinga'dapted to be removed bodily from the underframe on to the warehouse or place where the 'material isto be stored or discharged.

One object of my present invention is to .line '33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4; is an enlarged detail sectional viewtaken on approximately the line 44 of Fig. 2, and illustrates the construction of the hood or cover which is arranged over the door hinge of each unit; Fig.. 5 is a transverse sectional view-taken on approximately the line 55 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail .view of one-of the locking devices on the units that prevent the units from tilting when they are arranged in operative position on the underframe.

Referring to the' drawings which illus vtrate the preferred form of myinvention, A designates the underframe or unit-supporting means of the car, and B designates a plurality of removable and interchangeable units" or compartments which are mou ted on said underframe. 'The underfram can be of-any preferred design, and while I have'herein shown a skeleton underframe that comprises longitudinal sills and Specification of Letters Patent,

transverse members or transoms,-I wish it to be clearly understood that my invention is.not limited to such a construction for the unit-supporting means of the car is immaterial so far as my present invention is concerned.

The units B are of uniform shape and size so that they can be interchanged or arranged in difiere'nt positions on the underframe, or on the underframe of a different car of the same type, and means are provided for locking the units' together and also to the underframe. Each of the units B herein shown consists of a rectangular-shaped box Patented July 11, 1911. Application-filed March 17, 1910. Serial No. 549,865 i formed of metallic plates and commerciallyrolled members, preferably angle-bars 1., which lap over the corners of the box so as to produce a strong and rigid'compartment that is tight enough' to hold liquids or fine granular or powdered materials. The underframe A is provided with a plurality of pockets in which the units are mounted, and in the construction herein shown said pockets are formed by a number of transverse* members 2 which are arranged between the units so as to prevent them from shifting longitudinally of the underframe, and a pair of longitudinally-extending members 3, preferably angle-bars, thatextend the entire length of the under-frame so as to prevent the units from moving'transversely,-it'being understood, of course, that the members 2- and 3 are permanently connected to the underframe. the underframe are provided with inwardly projecting horizontal flanges 4, as shown in Fig. 5, on which the units rest, said flanges being arranged in a higher horizon- The side sills of tal plane than thetop faces of the center sills and cross-bearers of the underframe so that the bottom of each unit will be spaced away from said parts and thus prevent the bottom 'of the unit from buckllng I flanges 4 of the side sills to form an o en, frame on which the outer edge portion of the bottom of each unit rests, the top faces sills.

' tilting or moving upwardly.

of said transversely extending members 5 being flush with the flanges 4 on the side Each unit is provided with casters or rollers 6 of any preferred design which enable it to be moved easily after it has been removed from the underframe, and in the construction herein shown, said casters are connected to transversely extending channels 7 on the bottom of the unit,'as

shown clearly in Fig. 3. These channels 7 stiffen the bottom of the unit and prevent it from buckling, and if desired, longitudinal braces 8, preferably angle-bars, can be arranged between the channels 7, the vertical legs of said channels and angle-bars being of less depth than the legs of the channel-shaped supports 5 so as to prevent the central portion of the bottom of the unit from bearing directly on the underframe. The two side walls of each unit are provided with Xshaped braces which preferably consist of a pair of commercially-rolled channels 9 arranged with their legs or flanges projecting outwardly and their webs riveted to the outer faces of said side walls, as shown in Fig. 1. The two other walls of each unit are provided with hand-holds or ladders 10 which assist the trainmen to climb onto the tops of the units. It will, of course, be understood that the hand-holds on the outer walls of the two end units of the car are the only ones that are used, but I have provided both walls of each unit with hand holds so that any of the units can be arranged at the ends of the car.

The units are locked together by means of latches 11 on one unit which cooperate with pins or projections on an adjacent unit, each unit being provided with a pair of latches 11 and a pair of pins 12 so as to enable the units to be interchanged. These latches 11 are preferably arranged adjacent the upper ends of the units, as shown in Fig. 1, near the upper ends of the X-shaped braces 9, and independent means are provided for preventing the units from tilting or moving upwardly from the underframe of the car. Said means preferably consists of a plurality of pivotally mounted -hookshaped devices 13 on the units which catch underneath cotiperating hook-shaped members 14 on the underframe so as to prevent the units from Each of the devices 13 is mounted on a pin which is supported by a pair of brackets 15 that project outwardly from the side wall of the unit, and a dog 16, which is also mounted on said brackets, cofiperates with the device 13 to lock it in its operative position. as shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and also hold it in an .inoperative position, as shown in broken lines in said figure. The dog 16 is provided with a tooth 17 which is so disposed that it lies on one side of a tooth 18 on the device 13 when said device is in engagement with pass out of engagement with the tooth 18 on the device 13 and thus permit said device to be swung upwardly, the dog 16 being thereafter released so that the tooth thereon will engage the tooth on the device 13 and hold it in an inoperative position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. A locking mechanism of this construction comprises few parts and is not liable to get out of order and it is so designed that it can be released easilyeven when it is coated with ice fora slight upward blow on the dog 16 releases the device 13 and permits said device to be swung outwardly.

Each of the units is provided with a top wall which consists of a permanent portion 19 and a movable portion or door 2O that is hinged to said permanent portion, sail door extending the entire width of the unit. If desired, the top wall of the unit can be provided with a filling opening that is normally closed by a cap 35, thus enabling the unit to be filled without opening the door in the top wall thereof. The hinge which connects the door 20 to the permanent portion 19 of the top wall, consists of two substantially L-shaped members 19* and 20 whose vertical legs or flanges are provided with cooperating eyes through which a pintle 21 passes, the horizontal legs or flanges of said members being connected to the door and to the permanent portion 19 of the top wall. A hood 22 is arranged over said hinge so as to prevent water from entering same, and means is provided for moving said hood into an inoperative position away from the hinge when the door is raised, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. The hood is pivotally mounted on a shaft or pin 23, and links 24 are fastened to said hood and to the hinge member 2O on the door so as to cause the hood to move upwardly with the door and thus permit the door to be swung clear over into a position extending parallel to the stationary portion of the top wall. The hood 22 protects the hinge and prevents water from entering same, and the upstanding flanges or legs of the hinge members 19 and 20 which carry the pintle of the hinge, permit the door to be swung clear over onto the stationary portion of the top wall of the unit so that it does not obstruct the opening through which the material is introduced into the unit, said flanges or legs being so proportioned that the hood 22 can lie between the door and the permanent portion 19 of the top wall of the unit when the door is open. If desired, a drip trough 22 can be arranged inside of the unit under the joint between the door 20 and the stationary 25 that are adapted to be engaged by the lifting apparatus, said trunnions having heads 25 that prevent them from slipping out of the lifting apparatus. The trunnions 25 of each unit project laterally from the side walls of the unit, as shown in Fig. 1, and they are preferably so disposed that the unit 15 can turn automatically into a position to discharge its load while it is supported by the lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus beingprovided with means for holding the unit level while it is being removed from the underframe' 'and conveyedto the warehouse or point where the material is to be discharged. Each of the trunnions is connected to a casting 26-that is secured to the side wall of the unit at a point slightly to 25 one side of the center of said "side wall so that the trunnion will be eccentrically dis: posed and thus cause the unit to turn or swing'downwardly when the locking mechanism on the lifting apparatus is released.

30 The trunnion castings 26 are provided on their inner faces with grooves and recesses for receiving the flanges and the webs of the X-shaped braces 9 so that said castings will lie tightly against-the side walls of theunits .and thus produce a strong and rigid. structure but it will, of course, be understood that the trunnions could be connected to the units in various other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

A car of theconstruction above described can be used for conveying liquids or fine granular or powdered materials in view of the fact that the units are water-tight and dust-proof. Consequently such materials can be transported at a low cost as it is not necessary to store them in small packages or containers. With a car of the construction above described the units can be filled at the plant of the manufactureror producer, then placed upon one of the underfraines of the line or company that operates the cars, and after the car hasarrlved at its destination, the units can be removed therefrom and con-' veyed to the warehouse or lace where the A material is to be stored or discharged] The units are so designed that they can be handled conveniently by a crane or other suitable lifting apparatus and as the, units tilt automatically into a, position to discharge their loads when the locking devices on the yokes are released, no manual labor is re- 'quired.to empty the units. j "The cooperating catches or lockin devices onthe-units and onthe under ame members.

are so placed that it is not necessary to arrange a unit in a certain pocket of the underframe, and as all of the units and underframes of the line are of the same construction, the units will fit in any underframe of the line or system that operates the cars. Byconstructing a unit from metal plates and commercially rolled members in the manner abovedescribed, I produce an inexpensive receptacle that is strong enough to withstand the rough usage towhich it is subjected and the units are so securely N locked to each other and to the underframe that they will not be liable to become displaced when they are in transit.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A freight car comprising a frame or supporting means, a plurality of units carried by said frame for holding the material being transported, cooperating members on said units and underframe for preventing the units from becoming displaced, and piv otally mounted locking devices'which hold said members in engagement with -each other. p q l 2. A freight car comprising a frame-or supporting means, a plurality of units car ried by said frame for holding the material being transported, cooperating members on said units and underframe for preventingthe units from moving upwardly, and means for holding said cooperating members either in engagement with each other or out of en. gagement with each other.

v 3. A freight car, comprising an underframe, a plurality of removable and inter' changeable units mounted on said underframe for holding the material being transported, pivot-ally motinted hook-shapedv devices on said units arranged adjacent the lower ends of same, stationary members on the underfra'me which said devices engage and thus prevent the unitsfrom rising or 11'() moving upwardly, and pivotally .mounted dogs on s'aid'iunits'that are adapted to engage said hook-shaped devices and hold them in engagement with said stationary- 4. A freight car, comprising an underframe, a plurality of removable and inter-- changeable units mounted on said underframe forholding the material being transported, pivotally mounted hook-shaped devices onsaid units arranged adjacent. the lower ends of same, stationary members on the underframe which said devicesengage and thus prevent'the units. from rising or 7 moving upwardly, pivotally mounted locking dogs on said units arranged above the upper'ends of said hook-shaped devices, and

cooperating' lugs on said dogs and devices that hold said devices either in operative or inoperative positions.

5. A freight car, comprising an underframe, a plurality of removable and inter changeable units mounted on said underframe for holding the material being transported, stationary hook-shaped members on the underframe, pivotally mounted hookshaped devices on the units which are adapted to pass under said stationary members and thus prevent the units from moving upwardly, said devices being adapted to be swung outwardly to release said units, pivotally mounted dogs arranged above said devices, and lugs on the under side of said dogs which are adapted to engage lugs on the upper ends of said devices and thus lock said devices in position.

6. A freight car, comprising an underframe, a plurality of removable and interchangeable units mounted on said underframe for holding the material being transported, means on the underfranie for preventing the units from shifting longitudinally or transversely, means for connecting the units together. stationary catches onv the underframe, brackets on the side walls of I said units provided with side flanges, pivotally mounted catches arranged between said side flanges and adapted to pass under the stationary catches on the underframe, and

locking dogs arranged between the side wardly from the side sills and arranged in a higher horizontal plane than the top faces of the cross-bearers and center sills, inverted channel-shaped members arranged transversely of the underframe and having their top faces flush with said flanges, and a plurality of interchangeable units mounted on said transversely extending members and flanges for holding the material being trans ported.

8. A freight car, comprising an underframe which consists of side sills, center sills and cross bearers, flanges projecting inwardly from the side sills and arranged in a higher horizontal plane than the top faces of the cross-bearers and center sills, inverted channel-shaped members arranged transversely of the under-frame and having their top faces flush with said flanges, a plurality of interchangeable units mounted on said transversely extending members and flanges for holding the material being transported, angle-bars connected to the flanges on the side sills for preventing the units from shifting transversely of the underframe, and abutments arranged adjacent said transversely extending members for preventing the units from shifting longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this fifteenth day of March 1910.

HENRY \V. KIRCHNER.

lVitnesses \VELLs L. CHURCH, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

